To register, contact Jennifer Hansen at 360-586-7868 or jennifer.hansen@doh.wa.gov. The conference call number and meeting code will be given to those who register. Jennifer will need the following information from registrants: name; organization; email; phone; and fax number.

A May 25 National Public Radio segment addressed underage drinking during prom and graduation. The segment includes tips from adults and teens on ways to talk to teens about alcohol use. NPR's description of the segment:

Kids look forward to the prom — but some parents dread it. The temptation to hit the booze at the after-parties may be strong for teens, but some studies say that science may be the way to convince them to say "no." When it comes to teen drinking, a new set of talking points can help parents.

The coalition's May 2009 newsletter came out today. It includes articles about the police response to large underage drinking parties in parks and about the prevention group at Nathan Hale High School (RADD).

A new report from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University shows that state governments spend, on average, 15 percent of their entire budgets on substance abuse and addiction and its consequences. The report indicates that for every dollar spent on the problem, 94 cents goes to deal with the consequences in public programs such as health care, criminal justice, education, child welfare, and mental health. Only about 2 cents go to prevention, treatment and research to reduce the problem, according to the report.

Here is the breakdown CASA did about substance abuse related spending in Washington. To view the full report, click here.

In his Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Request, President Obama recommends eliminating the State Grants portion of the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities (SDFSC) program. The SDFSC program funds a significant portion of Seattle Public Schools' Prevention Intervention Program and many prevention programs around the state.

Earlier this month, a delegation from the UK visited Seattle to learn about implementing tested and effective prevention programs . They spent the week visiting different programs and learning from local experts in the field.

Members of the Prevention WINS coalition (NE Seattle) and the coordinator of the Quincy Communities That Care coalition provided the delegation with a first-hand look at how coalitions are implementing underage drinking prevention programs.

An MDE is defined as a period of 2 weeks or longer during which there is either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure and at least 4 other symptoms that reflect a change in functioning, including problems with sleep, eating, energy, concentration, and self-image.

Among treated adolescents:-- 58.8% saw or spoke to with a counselor;-- 36.8% saw or spoke with a psychologist;-- 27.3% saw or spoke with a psychiatrist or psychotherapist;-- 26.6% saw or spoke with a general practitioner or family doctor.

When it comes to underage drinking . . .

Among youth who had previously not used alcohol, 29% of those with a MDE initiated alcohol use compared with 14% who had not experienced a MDE within the past year.

The SPF-SIG coalition in Port Angeles is launching a social norms marketing campaign. Above is their "warm up message". They are going to use it as a window cling and then in their parent newsletter and in places that 7th/8th grade parents frequent.

The coalition plans to develop and add on messages using their community survey results to guide them. One message will be, " . . . because Port Angeles parents ask their kids where they are and who they are with." These messages will be done mostly through posters.

Lowering the MLDA law from age 21 to 18 continues to be a hot topic. Some college presidents believe that lowering the drinking age will help eliminate hazardous behaviors by their students, including binge drinking. Research clearly contradicts this premise, however.

This electronic seminar will include an expert panel of presenters who will discuss various liability issues, including social, economic, and legal effects of lowering the drinking age. In addition, participants will learn about resources that will support efforts to keep the drinking age of 21.

On April 15 I blogged about the Seattle Police Department's (SPD) letter to the Liquor Control Board (LCB) requesting that the liquor license not be renewed for SP Mart, a mini-mart a few blocks west of Eckstein Middle School.

Reducing minor's access to alcohol plays an important role in reducing underage drinking rates in northeast Seattle. Especially since it is part of community-wide prevention activities being implemented by the coalition.

On May 9, a Roosevelt High School student was assaulted at Golden Garden Park. The teenager's friend was stabbed and the RHS student was "also assaulted but did not require medical attention" according to the police report. The assault occurred after "a verbal argument ensued over what (was) described as an issue at school." A car was also damaged during the assault.

What is not mentioned in the police report is that underage drinking was involved. Our parks are havens for underage drinking parties and, increasingly, teenagers are injured or assaulted and property, including cars, is damaged or destroyed during these parties. While it's important to stop underage drinking because it is illegal and has negative health consequences, it's just as important to stop underage drinking to keep our kids and our parks safe.

Solving the problem of underage drinking will require a broad-based, long-term commitment. As we move forward, we need to pay attention to what history and research have taught us and build on this knowledge base including what we know about the relationship between minimum legal drinking age laws and underage drinking and is consequences.

There is no evidence that lowering the MLDA will reduce the underage drinking problem. Conversely, there is strong evidence that lowering the drinking age will increase youthful alcohol consumption and alcohol-related injuries and fatalities.

The SPF-SIG coalition coordinator from Wenatchee recently shared the following:

As I'm sure you all know, Apple Blossom Festival is a big thing here in Wenatchee. It kicked off last weekend with the Youth Parade and Youth Day in the Park.

Our coalition had an exciting Youth Day booth in the park -- they estimate 5,000 people attended that day. We had 2400 -- YES 2400 -- bottles of water to hand out. We had 1200 with our new parent message, "Congratulations Wenatchee Parents, 9 out of 10 have rules AGAINST underage drinking" and 1200 had our youth message, "MOST teens DON"T drink alcohol". We also had little bubbles for the little kids. We gave out ALL of the water bottles minus 2 cases of 24 bottles each. It was really fun talking to all of the parents and youth about the message. Students and staff helped put labels on all the bottles and Pepsi donated half of them.

The Franklin Pierce Youth First Coalition (a SPF-SIG coalition in the Tacoma area) recently hosted a Fun Run and Discovery Health Fair. About 85 people, including students, participated in the fun run and about 150 others were there to volunteer, see vendors at the fair, or participate with children in field games.

As education and health and human services budgets are cut, many school districts are losing funding for their drug and alcohol counselors (Prevention-Intervention Specialists). Seattle Public Schools has been struggling with this issue for several years. Here is an article about how Anacortes is struggling with the issue.

For the purposes of the study, a high quality relationship was one where teenagers felt they could discuss their problems with their parents and that their parents respected their feelings.

Guiding Good Choices provides parents with tools to create and sustain strong bonds with their children. The coalition will be offering more Guiding Good Choices workshops in the fall -- check this blog later this summer to view a fall schedule.